This weekend should have seen our annual opening for the National Garden Scheme, but the COVID-19 has put a firm end to that, so this week and next we are posting a series of images on Instagram and Facebook to help you to get your ‘fix’ of our lovely garden.

We are following the route that Sue takes in her Candide Gardening audio tour, and today we reach day 5.

We do hope you enjoy these pictures and will come – maybe again – to visit us when we can open. At this point in time it is all so uncertain that we can’t even say whether we will be open at all this year.

Day one

The woodyard, which as visitors will recall is the start of the Nantybedd tour, our meet and greet place.

The attention grabbing pyramidLooking down from the road

Pea sticks and the hardwood stacks

Day two

and we move into Sue’s little domain – the potting shed – the hub of all that happens in the garden – or Home as Sue calls it!

The door to HomeShe doesn’t actually use those riddles!Potting on .. in the potting shedDried flowers from former years .. and redundant signs this yearSeed storage and tools

Day three

We move back outside to yet another key factor in our gardening ethos – compost. You may have been on one of Sue’s Compost Making workshops or seen our earlier published video (which has been used by the National Garden Scheme) on making the perfect compost. If you haven’t then it’s a potential Oscar winner!

The composting hubOwl keeps a close eye on the leafmould binCompost in use on the spudsCompost bins come in all shapes ……. and sizes!

Day four

Through the gate into the potager, home of flowers and vegetables, and wonderful hazel support frames.

Welcome desk!Through the gate – the onions are looking goodRecycled windows make a great cold frame Planting out the runner beans at the tunnelHazel sweet pea supports

Day five

Venturing through the runner bean tunnel, we come to our tree carving Cedric, who symbolises our approach to editing nature, not dominating it.

Cedric and a bit of Sweet CicelyClose-up Lovely green ‘hair’!Sue does like writing HaikusSelf seeded conifers ……and fernsJust then along came the ducks!

There’s more to come. We’ll be publishing some more early next week – keep watching.

You can also help the National Garden Scheme to continue to support such worthy health and nursing charities as Macmillan Cancer Support and Queen’s Nursing Institute – to name but two – by donating to our JustGiving page – scan the QR code below with your phone or tablet for instant access to our page.

2020 garden openings

Latest News: Due to the uncertainty surrounding the possible course of the COVID-19 virus and personal health issues, we are currently not intending to open in 2020, nor will any of the proposed workshops take place this year.

We look forward to welcoming you to Nantybedd Garden in 2021

As previous years we will be open from Friday 3rd July until Sunday 27th September on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 2pm until 6pm. We will also be open on Bank Holiday afternoons.

Please remember that we will also open ‘By Appointment’ at other times, but we do require you to contact us in advance. Discounts do not apply to these openings.

For more details see the Visit our garden section of this site.

Newsletter – Sign up now

We’re now offering a two-monthly newsletter sent to your e-mail inbox. This will give details of ‘pop-up’ openings, for example in the Spring for daffs and bluebells.

If you’d like to be on the list and ‘in the know’ send us your e-mail details to garden@nantybedd.com.

We promise not to use your info for anything but the newsletter.

Eco-Opening

We do also open occasionally for the Monmouthshire Eco-Open Doors programme. If you are interested in any of our various eco-features (hydro, woodburners, organic growing, natural swimming pond etc.) give us a call to arrange a visit.

Courses and Groups

If you would like to attend a course (see Courses and Events), bring a group to Nant-y-Bedd or even run your own course in our 6.5 acres of garden, woodland and river, just drop us an e-mail - address below - and we can discuss your needs.

We have had a 52 seat coach get here without any problem, so don't be concerned about narrow roads if thinking of a group visit

Sue gives talks to Garden Clubs, U3A, WI and similar organisations. As above, drop us an e-mail.

How to find us

Before you start, use your Sat Nav if you must, but be prepared to be sent in all sorts of odd directions. Much better to follow the directions below.

Nant y Bedd is found 4.5 miles up the road towards the Grwyne Fawr Reservoir, in the area known as Fforest Coal Pit, Abergavenny.

We are about equi-distant from Abergavenny and Crickhowell, around 10 miles. From ABERGAVENNY take the A465 Abergavenny to Hereford road and turn off at LLANFIHANGEL CRUCORNEY.

Coming from HEREFORD direction turn off the A465 at LLANFIHANGEL CRUCORNEY.

By the Skirrid Inn (in Llanfihangel Crucorney) turn down the hill (following signs for Llanthony), bear left at the bottom of the hill and continue for about a mile, passing under a railway bridge. Turn left at the signpost for Llanbedr, Patrishow and Fforest Coal Pit.

After a mile and a half you will arrive at Five Ways junction. Take the road to the Grwyne Fawr reservoir, passing the grey telephone box and over a river bridge.

From CRICKHOWELL take the turning by the Fire Station towards Llanbedr. Follow signs to Fforest Coal Pit (sometimes just Fforest) until you reach a house in the 'middle of the road'. Bear left down the hill and you will arrive at Five Ways junction. Take the road to the Grwyne Fawr reservoir, passing the grey telephone box.

The post code for sat-navvers (if you insist!) is NP7 7LY, but when the voice tells you that you've arrived, you will probably be opposite a house called Ty Hir. Keep going for another half mile and you will come to Nant y Bedd.

It really is only 4.5 miles from the grey telephone box, but if you don't know the road it will seem further - don't give up!! Keep an eye open for the small "this way" signs at junctions.

The house is on the left hand side of the road and there are large sheds on the right hand side. There's also a small red Post Box just by the front gate.

For NGS Open Garden Days parking is usually in one of the forest roads just before the house and will be signposted. On other days please park alongside the tin roofed shed on the righthand side of the road.

For fellow aficionados of OS Maps, the grid reference is
SO 25705 26869

IMPORTANT: We have discovered that Google Maps has decided that one of the roads mentioned above doesn't exist!! To avoid a number of very narrow lanes coming out of Abergavenny, please do not rely on Google Maps directions, but stick to what is written above, via Llanfihangel Crucorney.